Scott Sawyer
Raleigh
Scott Sawyer displays his musical diversity like a badge of honor, re-visiting his blues & rock roots while continuing to explore the jazz tradition & beyond.
He’s performed at major festivals, concert halls, and beer-soaked dives here and abroad (Asia, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East) including Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), Herbst Jazz Festival (Austria), St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz, 2002 Silde Jazz (Norway); Ottawa Jazz Festival; Detroit Jazz Festival, Berlin Chamber Music Hall (Germany); the Blue Note (NYC); Joe’s Pub (NYC); Catalina Jazz Club (LA), to name a few.
Born in Chicago, Sawyer eventually settled in North Carolina. Early exposure to jazz via his father’s record collection eventually influenced his growing interest in the genre.
Through the years, Sawyer has performed extensively with jazz singer Nnenna Freelon including the 1992 Philip Morris Superband world tour. He’s shared the stage and/or recorded with countless notable artists…Charlie Byrd, David Murray, prima ballerina Marie-Christine Mouis, Willie Pickens, Ed Thigpen, Bob Cranshaw, Oteil Burbridge, Kofi Burbridge, Jon Metzger, Melissa Reaves, Tony Williamson, Kate McGarry, Bruce Piephoff, Ghezzi, Lois Deloatch, Jon Lucien, Bill Anschell, Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos…to name a few.
Sawyer’s latest album “Dreamers” was released in Nov 2013. His previous album “Go There” (2007) charted on XM Radio. Numerous recording credits include Keith Water’s “Carolina Tracks” (2012; guitar and Associate Producer); Bruce Piephoff’s “Soft Soap Purrings” (2014; Producer, electric/acoustic gtrs); “Still Looking Up at the Stars” (2012, Producer, electric/acoustic gtrs); Dave Fox’s “The Meldavians-Farewell to Arigemon” (2012); Nnenna Freelon’s “Homefree” (2010) plus her 1997 Grammy-Nominated “Shaking Free”, “Live” (at the Kennedy Center; 2003) and “Listen” (1993); Lois Deloatch’s “Roots: Jazz, Blues Spirituals” (2010; guitar and Co-Producer); and Bill Anschell’s “a different note all together” (1998). He arranged & recorded “The Glory Of Love” w/ Danny Aiello; as featured in the Cinecom film “Once Around”.
Sawyer is a Teaching Instructor at East Carolina University in the School of Music. He’s also Lecturer of Jazz Guitar at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and leads Group Guitar classes at the Durham Jazz Workshop.
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